Rupert Murdoch speaks to a reporter during a gala launch party Monday, April 26, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

(Newser)
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Rupert Murdoch is painted as a “gangster” in a scathing Guardian piece by Henry Porter. The head of News Corp., under fire for the phone-hacking scandal his News of the World is embroiled in, “is a problem for British society,” Porter writes, “as menacing in his own special way to democracy and conduct of politics as many other threats our society faces.” Porter takes an in-depth look at the Murdoch machine, which “regards itself as above the law of the land.”

He accuses Murdoch of “paying the police for stories,” “hobbling due process,” and using his influence to distort politics—for example, “shaping the agenda on the Iraq war.” He adds, “No British political party has succeeded at an election in the last 30 years without Murdoch's blessing”—indeed, Tony Blair’s communications director “called Murdoch the 24th member of the cabinet.” Click here for the complete article, which includes a second piece calling for government to step in.

Bleating does nothing. Until we, the people, refuse to take Murdoch's shit he will continue to dish it out. He has no conscience, so shaming him won't do. We have to actually stop him. We have to support those few bodies willing and able to stand up to bullies. Support the ACLU and - who else? Start a list of organisations who can band together and hit this slimeball by exposing the truth about him.